Welcome to The Arsenal, Cristhian Mosquera 💫

We’re delighted to announce that Spain Under-21 international Cristhian Mosquera has joined us on a long-term contract. The 21-year-old defender arrives from Valencia, where he made 90 appearances in all competitions. Cristhian was with Valencia’s academy from the age of 12, progressing through the youth ranks before making his first-team debut in the Copa del Rey as a 17-year-old in January 2022. His first LaLiga appearance came just days later, starting at the Mestalla in a 1-1 draw against Sevilla. Ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, Cristhian was officially promoted to Valencia’s first-team squad, soon becoming an integral part of the club’s defence. Last season saw Cristhian start 37 of the 38 La Liga matches in the campaign, playing every minute during his appearances. Born in Spain and also eligible to play for Colombia, Cristhian has made 34 appearances at youth level for Spain between under-15 and under-21 levels. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with Spain defeating hosts France 5-3 in the final. Sporting Director Andrea Berta said: "We’re very happy and excited to have signed a hugely talented young player in Cristhian Mosquera. “We identified Cristhian as one of the strongest young defenders in European football, and he is an important signing for our future. Cristhian is a versatile defender who will strengthen our squad. We cannot wait to see him playing for us. “Together with everyone at the club, we warmly welcome Cristhian and his family to Arsenal." Manager Mikel Arteta added: "We're delighted to welcome Cristhian to Arsenal. “As a 21-year-old defender, Cristhian has already performed consistently well with significant experience in LaLiga. He is an intelligent player with good pace, who can play centrally and on both sides. “He is a young player with exciting talent and enormous potential, who will fit well into our squad as we continue to prepare for next season. “Cristhian adds good quality to our squad, a